CALL FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH INFORMATION IN SIERRA LEONE
By Ibrahim Seibureh

December 5, 2002 – (Freetown) Notwithstanding the serious abuses perpetrated on the civilian population, the impact of Sierra Leone's civil war on vulnerable groups has been largely invincible to policy makers. This is because the media has not highlighted the plight of rural women that have been the most affected. "Furthermore, traditional women have neither the voice to articulate their concerns, nor the power to make decisions on issues affecting them and their children", says Forum of Conscience, a local NGO headed by John Caulker.

FOC points out that, due to the lack of structures that could facilitate women's voices, their special needs and concerns have been
overlooked.

"These underprivileged women and communities need development assistance. "Having worked with these women in our different communities; realizing their level of commitment towards development and the challenges they face in terms of accessing resources, we are therefore appealing to the donor community to support these communities directly," says John Caulker.

Forum of Conscience has been implementing the Development Through Radio (DTR) project, a tried and tested communication tool that has been introduced in several African countries where grassroots people have effectively and collectively used it to search for solutions to reduce poverty in their communities.

"Having successfully implemented it in 15 communities in the southeastern areas of Sierra Leone, the DTR project is fully underway in 16 communities in the northern province", John says.

"The launching of this report on Human Rights Abuses Perpetrated on Women and the Girl Child During the Civil War in Sierra Leone is therefore aimed at calling to attention the plight of these underprivileged or grassroots women and their communities", he stresses.
John points out that they need sustained media attention to accelerate development in their communities.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200212100502.html